Power-driven cultivating machine



Dec. 11.1923.,

R. D.,vA| -ENTINE ETAL.

vPOWER DRIVENy CULTIVA'IING MACHINE l 4 Sheeis-Shet l Filezl March,

Dec. l l

R. D. VALENTINE ET AL POWER VDRIVEN CULTIVATING MACHINE Filed March 8 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 nllulllllllll ,fwn .......Hnluhu l l ILATIIIIUHIH I meer. .nl 1923.

R. D., VALENTINE ET'AL.

PwER DRIVEN CULTIVATING MAQHINE Y THE/n 7777' amers. Mmm

Dec. 11,1923. R.,D. VALENTINE ET AL POWER DRIVEN `CULTIVATING MACHINE ff I Patented Dee. lll, 1923/..v

estrae sTTs aereas patear @France ROBERT D. VALEIHIINEk Allll'D FREDERICK A. VALENTINE', 0F MINN- MINNESOTA. 'v

POWER-DRIVEN 'CULTIVA'IING MACHINE.

Application led March 8, 1920. Serial No. 364,011. y

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that we, ROBERT D. VALEN- TINE and FREDERICK A. VALENTINE citizens of the United States', residing at Minneapolis,in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Power-Driven Cultivating Machines; and we do hereby declareP the following to bea full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which 4it appertains to make and use the same.

Our invention has for its special object to provide an improved power-driven cultivating machine; and, to this end, our invention ,consists of the noveldevices and com;

binations of -devices hereinafter Adescribed and pointed out in the claims.

Our invention, in its preferred form, is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein. like notations refer to like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings Fig. l'is a plan view of our improved machine, some parts being removed and others broken away, the full lines showing the parts as they appear when'the steering .post

is so connected up that its normal position is a central one parallel tothe four wheels, 4when the four wheels are in line, and the dotted line positions show the result of swinging thel steering post tothe right;y

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but with more'of the parts removed andthe steering post shown connected up in such a way that its centralswhen the four wheels are'in align` ment, but will stand at an angle to the median vertical plane of the machine;

Fig. 3 is a view in vright side elevation looking at the parts vas connected up and shown in Figli;

Fig. 4 is a view chielydn'elevation lookvingy in,the same direction as in Fig. 3, but

showing some of the parts on a larger scale,

with some portions vbroken away and others I sectioned ;j y' Fig. 5 isa of Fig. 4;

Figli isa detail parts shown -in Fig. 4; and

y Fig. 7

one of the parts of Fig. 4 detached.

vertical section -on the line. 5.-5

in plan of* twoof the flange resting normal position willnot be..

is another detail in plan showing y 31, as best shown in Asuitable main frame 8 is supported by a pair of traction wheels I9 and a pair of caster wheels 10; The axles of the caster wheels are each provided with a, forwardly projecting crank arm 11'; and these two.

crank arms 11'are pivotally connected, at their forward ends, by an adjustable rigid heavy set screws 22, as best shown in ig. 4..

The vertical shaft section 19 of the flanged casting 2O works in a suitable vertical bearing 23, cast integral with the main frame 8, near the rear4 end on the top of said bearing, as best shown in Figsq and 5. The part of said hollow casting 20, which serves as asocket to receive the lower forward end of the steering post 21, stands at an obtuse angle to the hollow vertical shaft portion 19 of-fsaid casting, so that when the steering post 21 is in lworking position, it will ex` tend rearward and upward on a corresponding' angle, as best shown inFig. 3. Jrtits upper or r`earI end, said steering post 21 is provided with a' socket casting 24 rigidly of the lsame, with its .crank arm 13 to which the forward end of f .a rigid is centrally pivoted another socket casting 26 to which the handle bars 27 are rigidly.

but detachably secured by suitable set screws 28. rlhe handle bars .of the steering post are, therefore, adaptteed` to angular motion lengthwise ofthe s ering post 21, for

a purposewhich will presently appear.'-

'lhe numeral 29 represents asuitable tool head adapted tosupport and carry any desired number of detachable cultivating'tools 30, and this tool head isv pivotall, connected to the main frame b a `pair o drag bars ligs. 1, 2 and 3. 'llhe 60 cross tie 12. One of the axles 4of said caster i Larmes v that the tool head is free for 'vertical motion shown in Fi nutted bolt, -as best shown inv and also free for lateral motion, while main-l taining lparallelism vwith-the tractor wheel shaft, The numeral 32j, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, represents what may be properly termed a shifting baryandthis bar 32 yis pivoted to the main lframe, at its forward end, in cross line with the forward 'pivotal connections of the drag bars 31 vand equidistant between the two', or, in other words, at

of these pivotal connections being directly to lthe rear of the traction wheel axle. At its rear end, the shifting bar 32 is or indirectly, it, of course, follows that, if the rear end of this shifting bar 32 be shifted laterally in either directlon, it will move with it, lati'.

head 29 and the cultivating erally, the tool tools 30carried thereby. rlhis tool-shiftingv hollow vertical shaft 19 of the steering post casting 20vas a bearing, and has, at its lower end, a crank arm`35 rigidly but detachably secured thereto by a set. screw 36, as bestv shown in Fig. 5,`and the outer end of this crank arm 35 has slot, cross head and pin connection with said shifting bar 32, as best s. 4' and 6. The slot in the'bar 4withthe 'numeral 37 and the Fig. 4, is marked with the numeral 38 and the crosshead with the numeral 38. The slot, of course, is to permit the necessary angular `motion of the crank arm 35, nothwithstandin the fact that the forward end of the shi ing bar 32 is lon 'tudinal motion.

Tie said shaft 34 has, at its upper end, another crank arm 39 rigldlybut detachably secured thereto by a set screw 40, and the outer end .of this top crankarm 39 is pivotally connected by an adjustable rigid connection 41 to thepivoted socket casting'26 of the handle bar, ata point eccentric to the pivotal center thereof, as' bestshown in Figs. 5

land 2. Said rod 4 is shown connected to said crank arm'39`by an angular clip 41 and a nuttedbolt 41". In vlrtue of -these connections, it 4isv of course, obvious 'that when the handle -bar receives angular motion lengthwise ofthe lsteerin lower crank -arizn 35, by. its slot and pin con-'- ngztion with. the shiftin' the main frame 1 pivotallyf connected to the tool head 29, either directlyby a rigid link 33; and hence,'l.;

pivotally held againstv 4 y post.21, the ver#v tical shaft-34 will beroc ed.; and hence-its y bar 32, will move theeaendothe shifting bar laterally ofV of the machine,'aud, by u means of the rod 33, force the tool head 29 and the tools 30 laterallytherewith to--the extent of the angular throw lof the rear end vof the shifting bar 32. The parts may be give any range of lateral post casting 20. the cross center of the main frame--all three f In virtue of thel features of construction so far noted, it must be .obvious that, by Swingin the steering post 21 laterally;- permis'si le bythe turnin of the vertical ollow shaft ortion 19 o its flanged casting 20rin the Xed vertical. bearing 23 of the main frangia-the steering .-'bar 14 will be movedfforward or backward, according to which direction said vlaterally .swung the steeringcrank arm 1-3 on of the caster wheels 10, will steering post 21 may be and hence,.it/follows that ithe axle of one trecelve a corresponding angular motion, and through the cross-connected crank armsll, both of the caster wheels will -be correspondingly turned in an angular direction, as required to steer the machine in the direction desired, under the propelling action of the motor. For .example, 1n Fig. 1, it has been assumed that it is desired by the operator to turn his machine toward the left; andhe properly sets his caster wheels to secure this result by moving the steering Apost .21 toward the right, and thereby bringing the said steering post and steering connections and caster wheels into the dotted line position there shown. 1 v

' As shown in Figs. 1, 3 and all of the other views, with the exception of Fig. 2, the steering bar 14 is connected to the sector 16 of the crank arm 17, carried at the lower end of the vertical hollow shaft 19 of the steering-post casting 20, at such a point on vsaid sector l16 that the steering post will be central `-or extend rearward .on `the median line of the main frame of the machine, when the four supporting wheels of the machine are vin line. with each other. Otherwise stated, the normal. position of the steering post is assumed to be the vcentral one, sor

that the operator will walk directly fbehind thecenter of tion -jto said sector at such a `point=that' the normal position of the'steering. post may be Vthat shownin Fig. .2 of the'drawings, when the four supporting'wheels are in line with each other; and' when this laf-setting con@ the-machine. -The saidbsector 16, however, ,is shown as. provided with a number of holes finto. which the vrear end of said steering bar 14 may be secured and, hence, it is possible to make the.- conneclnection is made, the operator, with his hands on the handle bars, can walk to one side of the machine, as may be desirable when the four` supportingwheelsare inline with each other, as shown in the main'views, or at one side, as shown in Fig.. 2, is immaterial to gular angular motion of the handle bar,

theac-tion of the partsby which the cultivating tools are shifted laterally, whenever so desired, by the angularv motion of the pivcted handle bar castinglengthwise of the steering post., The operator can always secure this lateral movement of the tool head and its tools by making the necessary anmovement of the handle bars, as shown, for example, in dotted lines in Fig. 2 of the drawings. Unless the operator malres'the necessary edorty to produce this the handle bar will maintain a position parallel to the axle of the traction wheels at all points in the lateral movement of the steering post 21, as shown by dotted lines in lFig. l. of the drawings.

lt will, of course, be understood why this provided .lateral motion of the tool head 29 and the`cultivat1ng tools 30, carried there-y by, is desirable.- Corn or other plants do not always set in a true line lengthwise of the road and, at different stages of the growth, the supporting wheels of the machine must travel at slightly diderent distances from the rows of vplants, if the machine be traveling between vtwo rows of plants; and hence,

vte

` median line ofthe machine.

'hat' justably connected by a turnbuckle or slots pair of wel wheels havingsepamte axles teral motion of the tool head and tools .must be provided to avoid tearing up vsome of the plants, while, at .the same time, be-

ing able to bring the adjacent cultivators into the most advanta eous position for tearing out the weeds and throwing up the soil into the desired position, relative to the plants.

with its plurality of holes, carried at the outer end of the crank arm 17 secured to the lower end of the vertical hollow Jshaft 19 of the steering post, is simply one convenient and preferred means for varying the angle at which the crank `arm of the` be connected to said steerto vary the normal posiin respect to the Other substitute means could obviously be employed. For example, the crank l? might be angularly adjusted on the vertical shaft of the steering post andthe steering barbe longer and have a series of holes forthe pivotal connection, or be made .in two sections adsteering post may ing bar, in order tion of the steering liest 21,

and a clamping bolt.

I vided ried by and rigid with a from'the center of the lar lt should obvious that" the `sector 16 instable lengthwise of their supporting Aaxle to'vary the width of the tread, as neededffor adaptation to diderently i spaced rows of plants.

ln practice, means will, of course,'be prof into an for lifting theJ tool head 29 it,y when elevated position and there holding the tools are not in use,y as, for-exampley on the road, or turning when travelin around the en of a row of corn or other plants.

F or of 'the power drive for` the traction wheels 9 is 1a matter of'indiderence. ln llig. 1 of the drawings, however, an internal combustion engine t3 is 'shown mounted on the main frame, 'toward the forward end of-the same, with its crank shaft extending lengthwise of the machine Aon the median line of extension lt on which is splined a friction disk d5, having Yperipheral contact with the prole face of a large friction disk t6 carhaving thereon one member caring, including members 50 and 51 on another short countershaft-52 and a -gear 53 xed to the axleof the traction wheels 9. The lmembers of this train of gearing are so proportioned, relative to'each other, that the speed of the engine shaft will be prop-l erly reduced, with a-oorresponding increase of power and fixed to the axle of the traction wheelsI for maximumpredetermined s eed. The speed caribe further varied ywitllin the working range by lengthwise of its supporting shaft, so as to move the same radially inward 'or outward e friction -dislr t6. ,'lhe device for making t friction disk t5 is not shown, but, in prac tice, would be under control of the operator, through tice, the 4 large friction disk ,t6 is mounted so as to slide on the countershaft 't7 and is subject to a 'toggle lever' with an operat ing connection extending to within reach of the operatorlat the handle har for throwing thel said two disks .4155 and lli4 into and countershaft 47, d8 of a train of take eect on the gear 5? -a connemion extending to the oper-j fatorls position at the handle bar. ln practhe purpose of'this case, the character I ,the frame and havingl secured thereto-an shifting the srnall friction disktii los is shift of said.

out' of operative relation at the will of thel operator.. lin practice, ere -is also a cony neetion to the throttle. valve of the engine controllable by the operator at the handle han lln practice, the train of gearing from the' -counteiehaft tion wheels 9 includes a diderential gear, so

that either traction wheel'can turn independent of the other. i

l.` rlho combination with a main frame, of a rear-pair of tractor wheels and a frontl 47 to the axle of the trac-' ree wie

supporting-said frame, a pair ofcrossfcon-l nected crank arms, one on each of the axles l of said caster wheels, a horizontal steering l substantially as described.

2. The combination with a mainframe,

I of'fa rear -pair of tractor jwheels and a front pair' of caster wheels'ha-Ving separate axles supporting said frame,a pa1'r of cross-connected crank arms, one on eachnf the axles of said caster wheels', a'horizontal steering crank arm on the axle of one of said casterl wheels, a rearwardly extended inclined Steering' post having a vertical pivot shaft..v

mounted in .a vertical bearing fixed tosaid frame and provided'wiili a. horizont-al vsteer- A,fing crank arm, and a rigid connection pivotally connecting said two steering crank arms, Substantially' as' described.' Y l 3. The combination withthe mainframe of a power drivenvcultivating machine, of a tool head for carrying cultivating, tools, drag barsl pivotally connecting v said tool head with said frame; a shifting liar'pivoted tothe main frame at its forward end and having its rearward end 'pivotally' connected t0' said' tool head, a steering 'pQSthaVUg l lengthwise of the post, and rigid connections .pivotall-y connecting said handle bar'from a poinlt eccentric to its pivotal center tothe rear end of the'shifting bar, whereby anguv lar motion o f-the handle bar lengthwise` of the steering post will shift-the tool headV laterally, substantially. as described.

4. The combination with the'main fra-me f of apower driven cultivating machine,`of

'.zfhandlev bar pivot'ed; for "angular 4motion' 35 having its rearward end pivotally connected to said tool head, a steering post having itsY lhandle bar pivoted. yfor angular y.motion lengthwise of the posa-a' vvertical shaft -on the ,main .frame -having 'a crank arm at its lower end with vslot and pin connection toV said shifting bar 'and having an' operating crank armat.- itsupper end, and

' a `rigid connection pivotally connecting sai-d handle bar, substantially as 'and for the pur,

5.. In a machine the Aclass described,

A the combination with a rearwardly extended inclined steering po'st having a hollow ver;-

4of said Steering post and provided with a n l handle .bar `pivofted for. angular motion lengthwise of' the steering post, ofa tool headxwith "drag bars pivotally connected to the mainframe of the machine,l a shifting bar havin'gits forward end 'pivoted to the main-frame and its rear end pivotally connected to said tool head, a, vertical lshaft mounted in Ithe hollow pivot shaft of said steering post and having at'its lower end a crank arm with slot and pin connections t said shifting bar, and having in its. upper end an operatingcrank pivotally connected by a rigid connection to said handle bar at a point eccentric to the pivotal cenbenof said handle bar, all for cooperation, substantially as described. A d

6. In a wheeled, cultivatorth`e combination with a. inain frame and a tool head, of

drag bars piotally connecting the tool head a steering post pvote'd to said frame' adapted to .be rotated for guiding vsaid'cultivatoij a handle ybar pivoted tojsaid'steering post; for angular motion lengthwise thereof, Vand connections from. said handlebar .to said tool head, whereby lthe angular' motion .of ksaid handle bar lengthwise of lsaid steering post will shift the tool head" and ltools laterally., asA desired. n 7. In a wheeled cultivatoij, the combination with a main fratrie-and a. tool head, of d rag bars pivotally connecting the tool head to said main frame "withfreedom for lateral swinging motion, a shifting *bar pivoted to the main frame and having its rear end pivotally connectedwithgsai-d. tool head, a steering post pivoted to frame 'adapted to be rotated .for guidingsaid, cultivator,

ing post -for angula` movi ment lengthwise thereof andprovided w hconnections to said shifting banwherebysaid tool head andtools may be shifted'laterally by the an# giilar movementofsaid .handle bar lengtli- ,a Wise of said steering post, substantially las wheels, the combi-nation with said main frame, ofia steering post pivoted thereto l for lateralswingng motiornaiid connections operating crank arm to said handle barat. a point eccentric to the pivotal center of the therefrom`to said front pair of caster wheels vfor steering said .machine by the lateral iis.

motion of said steering post'and which' con- 'l nections'inclide a steeringbar and a crank arm Aon the steering post, and means for adjusting the angle at which. the, said crank arm anchsteering bar are `piVotallyf-connected, whereby the .normal position of the envases nections include a steering bar and a crank arm on the steering post having in its outer ond a sector with a serles of holes into winch the rear end of the steering bar may be pivoting ally connected for varying the normal posltion of the steering post in respect to the median line of the machine.

10. A power-driven cultivating machine having in combination a pair of rear driving wheels, a pair ot front caster wheels, a steering mechanism for angularly turning said front wheels, a laterally movable tool head, a pivot post structure, means connecting said pivot post structure to the steering mechanism, means connecting said pivot post structure to the tool head, and a controlling bar extending rearwardly romsaid pivot post structure and so connected therewith that angular movements thereof will control the steering mechanimn, and havin means thereon, the angular movement o which will control the movements 'of the 'tool head.

11.`A power-driven cultivating machine havingl in combination a pair of rear driving wheels, a air of front tractor wheels, a common ax e passing between the rear drivwheels, steering mechanism v for angularly turning the front wheels, a tool head laterally movable axle, a pivot post ing said structure structure, means connectto the steering mechanism, means connectin said structure to the tool head, a control ar connected to the pivot structure and angularly movable thereabout, said bar extendingl to the rear of the machine, means connectmer said bar to the pivot structure whereby angular movements of the bar will control the steerin kmechanism, and means carried by the en of the bar and so connected to the pivot structure that angular movements of the same relative to said bar will move the tool head.`

12. lna Y'power-driven cultivating machine having a steering device and a tool head, a frame having a bearing member thereina post memberjournalled lin said bearing member and adapted to be connected to said steering device and a second post journalled inside of said first mentioned post and adapted tool head.

bar,

in parallelism with said.

to be'connected 'to said y 13. The structure set forth in claim 12, and means connecting the first mentioned post to the steering mechanism.

14. The structure set ltorthin claim 12, and means connecting said second mentioned post to the'tool head.

15. The structure set-forth in claim 10, said pivot post structure comprising telescoped posts, one of which is connected to the steering mechanism and one of which is connected tothe tool head.

16. A power-driven cultivating machine having in combination a frame, a pair of wheels turnable relatively theretoabout vertical axes for steering said machine, a vertical shaft mounted in said frame, a tool means rotatable .about said shaft for turning said wheels, and means rotatable tool bar.

17. A power-driven cultivating machine havingin combination a laterally movable tool head, a single rearwardly extending 4 steering post, a pair of handle bars ext/ending horizontally adjacent the rear end of said post andpivoted thereto by a vertical pivot, and means for swinging the tool bar laterally when the handle bars are swung about said pivot relatively to said post.

y18. A power-driven cultivating machine having in combination, a laterally movable tool head, a single rearwardly extending steering post, -a pair of handle bars extending transversely 'of said post adjacent its rear end and pivoted thereto by a pivot extending substantially normal to theaxis of said post and means for swinging the tool with.Y said shaft for laterally shifting said I bar laterally when said handle bars are swunlg about said pivot relatively to said ost.

19. A power-driven cultivating machine having in combination, a frame, movable steering wheelsv therefor, a movable tool head, a single rearwardly extended swingable post, a handle adjacent the rear end of said post, means for moving the steering 'wheel swinging movement of said post, Jand means for moving the tool head by swinging movement of said bar. y

20. A power-driven cultivating machine having in combination, a pair of guide wheels at the front of the machine turnable about vertical axes to steer the machine, a laterally shiftable tool bar, a member movable to turn said wheels, and a member movable to shift said.- bar, both of said members being movable about a common axis.

tures.

bar swingably mountedv In testimony whereof we aix our signa- 

